Savanna Craig, CUTV

October 17, 2022

MONTREAL – As Anglophone, Indigenous and minority communities search for political allies in the aftermath of Bill 96 and the re-election of Coalition Avenir Québec, Local 514 explores the limits of solidarity exhibited by the progressive party Québec solidaire.

Montreal and the greater Montreal area possess the largest number of Anglophone- and non-French-speaking communities in Quebec – which are vocal in their backlash against Bill 96, the French-language reform law passed in May by the province’s nationalist Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government.

Meanwhile, Quebec solidaire (QS), has been coined the most progressive party in Canada with its proposed wealth tax, plan for climate action and promotion of Indigenous rights.

But how far does Québec solidaire go in its support of Indigenous rights? And did QS ultimately betray Anglophone communities?

In this edition of Local 514, host Savanna Craig invites Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Kakwirakeron Ross Montour and activist/writer Nora Loreto to discuss Québec solidaire and its track record on Anglophone, Indigenous and minority issues.

Days before Quebec’s provincial election October 3, there was speculation that QS might become the official opposition to CAQ. Despite winning more votes in comparison to the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP), Québec solidaire received fewer seats in the National Assembly, losing to the QLP as the official opposition.

Considering the growing influence of Québec solidaire on the political landscape, what are the internal party issues that affect local communities?

Loreto said Anglophones are hegemonic in North America and there is nothing hurting Anglophone rights. She said there are pieces of Quebec law that need to be undone, such as immigrants being required to learn French within six months, and imposing French on Indigenous communities that are already trying to maintain their own languages – which are under threat.

From the Kahnawake reserve to downtown Montreal, hundreds to thousands took to the streets this past spring to protest Bill 96 – a legislation passed in May that aims to preserve the French language in Quebec. The new law restricts access to healthcare, education, justice and government services in English.

Quebec solidaire supports Bill 96 but states that, if elected, it would plan to reverse the grace period provision for immigrants expected to learn French within six months, and would meet with Indigenous leaders to protect Indigenous languages in the province.

But Indigenous communities surrounding Montreal question how leadership under Québec solidaire would affect them, in particular when it comes to sovereignty. Already, Chief Montour says Indigenous youth have told him they might leave the province if the impact of Bill 96 is too great at the Cégep level.

“To say this is your home, your Indigenous land – and contemplate having to be part of an exodus which Quebec has seen since the 1970s?” questioned Montour.

“Our language has been under assault for generations now, but has struggled to maintain the language, the cost of which was borne by our own community. It’s been ongoing since the 80s.”